Mast cell modulation of the innate immune response to enterobacterial infection.

Abstract

Although mast cells have been associated with many biological responses (e.g. inflammation, tissue repair and angiogenesis) and clinical conditions (e.g. rheumatoid arthritis, interstitial cystitis, scleroderma, psoriasis, neurofibromatosis and Crohn’s disease), they remain one of the least understood cells of the immune system. By virtue of their high affinity IgE/F ceRI-receptors and their intrinsic capacity to release large amounts of inflammatory mediators, mast cells are primary known as major effector cells of allergy or type 1 hypersensitivity reactions (Marone et al 1997). In spite of these deleterious properties, mast cells have been preserved through evolution even among the lowest orders of animals indicating that these cells must be serving a valuable function in the body. A number of factors suggest a role for mast cells in modulating the innate immune response against bacteria. These include the fact that mast cells are present in large numbers under the epithelia of various mucosal surfaces and skin. They also have the intrinsic capacity to mobilize a rapid and vigorous inflammatory response in the host upon activation and mast cells have already been shown to contribute to certain aspects of the IgE-mediated adaptive immune response to parasites (Levy &